LPHS to give girls tennis players a special send off

Remember the high school pep rallies for the football and basketball teams?  LP High School officials are making sure to remember their state qualifying girls tennis players.

Senior Katie Wellner and junior Anna Konczak will leave school early Wednesday afternoon for the tournament at Buffalo Grove High School.  Athletic Director D’Wayne Bates says the girls will receive a state final send-off, something he hopes will become a tradition.

The send off will create a mini-parade through the halls starting in the first floor.  All of the teachers and students will line the halls while the girls pass by with a drum line.

Wellner and Konczak are coached by Clay Theisinger.

You can learn more by listening to an interview with Bates at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

Peru mayor joins IML board

          An organization made up of cities across Illinois has added Peru’s mayor to its board of directors.  Scott Harl was inducted into the Illinois Municipal League’s board at the group’s annual conference last weekend.

          Harl is one of 36 people on the board that is made up of mayors and village presidents.  He’ll serve on its infrastructure and public works committee.

Markings on the walking path and streets are an issue in Peru

          Obviously you’re not allowed to spray paint the park benches or the restrooms at Baker Lake- that would be vandalism.  But you can’t mark up the walking path either.

          Someone organizing a running race for the Illinois Valley YMCA used spray paint to put the mile markers on the freshly resealed walking path at the lake. 

          Alderman Dave Potthoff is also the Executive Director of the Illinois Valley YMCA.  He says he takes full responsibility for what happened and says the Y is hiring a company to fix it.

          Mayor Scott Harl says it’s not the first time there have been markings painted on the roads and sidewalks and thinks they need to come up with a policy of telling event organizers to use temporary signs.  He says in some cases the markings could be confused with JULIE utility locates.

          City Engineer Sean Mikos says the only colors that are safe to use are white and pink because all of the other colors, such as blue, are used by a utility.

Peru man arrested following Monday morning crash

If you were following the story about the crash Monday morning in Peru, one of the men driving was arrested.

Paul Leffelman of Peru is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and an intoxicating compound and having Xanax.  He was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

The crash happened at Shooting Park Road and Route 251 and sent three people to Illinois Valley Community Hospital with minor injuries.

Oglesby City Council Slows Down Community Center Movement

While some of you are eager to design a community center in Oglesby, the decision makers have applied the brakes.

According to the NewsTribune, the Oglesby City Council Monday night tabled a vote on forming an exploratory committee to find a developer and funding sources for a multipurpose community center near McPhedran Park.  Commissioner Tom Porter says he’s worried about the committee’s duties and how they can meet while being in compliance with the Open Meetings Act.

Porter says he’s not against a community center its just he has concerns of how the committee will work.

Motorcyclist Dead After Crash In La Salle

A Wenona man has died after crashing his motorcycle near the La Salle Speedway.

Ryan Healy was pronounced dead Monday while being treated at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.  He was on Route 6 Sunday night when he left the road for whatever reason and crashed into a utility box.  Healy was then flown to Peoria.

An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.

School Board Announces Special Meeting To Talk About Potential New School In Peru

A big decision on the future of Washington Elementary School in Peru could be made next Wednesday.

The Peru Elementary School Board will have a special meeting next Wednesday at 5:30 to consider the future of the 77-year old school.  Superintendent Mark Cross says they’re deciding whether to build a new Washington School on its current site or add on to Northview School so it can house 2nd thru 4th graders who now go to Washington.

The school district has an 11 million dollar state grant but doesn’t want to put any money into the aging Washington School which needs millions of dollars in repairs.

Ameren Says Heating Bills Should Be Lower This Winter

Here’s some good news for your bank account.  Ameren is predicting lower natural gas prices this winter.

The company says it bought natural gas when it cost less and stored it away.  This could mean a 5% percent savings on your winter heating bill compared to last year.

Of course if this winter is bitterly cold and you jack up the thermostat, your bills could still be higher than a year ago when it was a mild winter.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Just over two months away from Christmas, snow could fall across the Illinois Valley.

Rain mixed with snow is the forecast for the Illinois Valley today.  The snow could start late this morning in Bureau County and then early afternoon for La Salle County.  Right now some spots could get an inch of snow at most.

The chance of snow should end by early this evening.  What snow does fall is expected to only stick to grassy spots.